The controversy over the recent social media advertisement that linked Christmas to explicit and inappropriate themes is more than just another episode of insensitive marketing. It is a troubling reflection of a deeper, more deliberate attempt to exploit religious sentiment at a time of year meant for unity and reflection. The Church in Goa has voiced its anguish. The public has expressed distress. The police have now cancelled permission for the event at the centre of the ad. Yet the central question remains unanswered. How was such permission granted in the first place?
Christmas holds profound spiritual meaning for Christians. It is a time defined by compassion, peace and the birth of Jesus Christ. The season invites families and communities to come together in a spirit of goodwill. To twist this festival into a marketing hook built around explicit themes is not merely insensitive. It is provocative. It deliberately crosses a boundary that society instinctively respects, one grounded in the understanding that faith is not a commodity for shock-driven publicity.
While offensive content appears frequently online, the timing, tone and messaging of this advertisement raise legitimate questions. Was this a careless act of tone-deaf marketing or a calculated attempt to provoke and create controversy? The pattern across the country, where festivals of different faiths have repeatedly been targeted for “creative reinterpretation,” suggests that this may not be accidental. And that is precisely why Goa must examine not just the advertisement, but the chain of decisions surrounding the event it promoted.
The cancellation of the event by the police is the right step. But cancelling does not close the matter. If anything, it opens a more urgent line of inquiry. Who vetted the proposal? Who approved the permissions? Were the authorities fully aware of the nature of the event? Did the organisers misrepresent their purpose? Or was the approval granted without proper scrutiny?
The people of Goa deserve answers. Silence or vague explanations will only deepen suspicion and allow room for speculation that benefits no one. Accountability begins not only with taking down offensive content but with understanding how administrative oversight failed in the first place.
The Church’s appeal for an enquiry is therefore justified and necessary. This is not a matter of censorship. It is a matter of responsibility. The state must determine whether the advertisement was simply an ill-conceived marketing idea or part of a larger attempt to disrupt communal harmony by stirring emotions during a sensitive season. Goa cannot afford to take this lightly, especially in a climate where faith and identity are too often manipulated for personal, political or commercial gain.
Free expression is vital in any democracy. But freedom comes with responsibility, and responsibility demands respect for the cultural and religious boundaries that shape our social balance. When expression deliberately insults or misrepresents a community’s beliefs, it ceases to be creative expression and becomes provocation.
Beyond the religious dimension, there is a broader civic concern. Goa has long been admired for its peaceful coexistence, its ability to hold many identities together without hostility or fear. This incident may appear small in isolation, but such provocations have the potential to slowly erode the trust that sustains that coexistence.
Citizens must remain alert, not agitated. Outrage serves no purpose unless it translates into constructive vigilance. Goa’s communities have historically shown remarkable maturity in handling sensitive issues. That same maturity is needed now.
As investigations move forward, authorities must ensure transparency, determine responsibility and make public the process that led to the approval and subsequent cancellation of the event. If procedural lapses occurred, they must be corrected. If deliberate misinformation was supplied by organisers, they must be held accountable.
The episode is a reminder that harmony is not guaranteed. It must be protected. Goa cannot permit sacred festivals to be misused for attention, nor can it overlook administrative lapses that allow such misuses to proceed unchecked.
The path ahead is clear. Withdraw the content fully. Conduct a thorough inquiry. Hold the responsible parties accountable. And above all, protect the peace and respect that have long defined the spirit of Goa.
